Gramophone Choices,
Gramophone Editor's Choices - May 2021
A 'breathtaking' Proustian soirée from violinist Théotime Langlois de Swarte and pianist Tanguy de Williencourt, released to mark the great French writer's 150th birthday, occupies pride of place this month: inspired by a private concert which Proust hosted at The Ritz in Paris on 1st July 1907, the programme features two transcriptions of songs by his sometime lover Reynaldo Hahn, plus music by Fauré, Wagner, Schumann, Chopin, and François Couperin.
Editor's Choices include French baritone Ludovic Tézier's long-overdue debut solo recording of Verdi arias, the second instalment of Phantasm's 'Well-Tempered Consort', and Swedish violinist Johan Dalene's delectable recital of Scandinavian music with pianist Christian Ihle Hadland on BIS - you can read David's interview with Johan about the project here.
Recording of the Month
'It’s a breathtaking, astonishing disc, and I cannot recommend it too highly.'
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Editor's Choices
'Phantasm have crafted a story with and through Bach’s music. A wholly wondrous album.'
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
'Dalene’s playing possesses such palpable maturity, intelligence and composure that even a (dare I say it) hoary staple of the violin repertoire such as Sinding’s Suite in A minor sounds positively newly minted.'
Available Formats: SACD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
'Given Jablonski’s affinity for Russian Romantics, his sense of sweep, wide dynamic range, intelligently contoured inner voices and ripely singing tone do not surprise.'
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
'Piau’s voice is light and deftly controlled, and it’s matched beautifully by dappled orchestral accompaniment from the Besançon-based Orchestre ‘Victor Hugo’ and conductor Jean-François Verdier.'
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
'A new and focused voice, richly varied in its tonal palette, unafraid to exploit the full gamut of human emotion so dramatically etched by the composer.'
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Pergolesi: Stabat Mater & Rossell: Salve Regina
Giulia Semenzato (soprano), Lucile Richardot (mezzo), Ensemble Resonanz, Riccardo Minasi
'Semenzato and Richardot are tremendous. Richardot’s warmth offsets Semenzato’s brightness, and their voices blend and twine round each other almost sensually in their duets.'
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
'They are in cracking form here, with no discernible weak link in the ensemble: honey-toned and purposeful sopranos, assertive countertenors and everything on down to match.'
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
'This is surely the finest Verdi recital – from any voice type – to have appeared for several years, if not a decade.'
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
DVD/Blu-ray of the Month
A Legend Reborn: The Voice of King’s
Dónal McCann, Henry Websdale, Richard Gowers, Tom Winpenny, Ashley Grote, Robert Quinney, David Briggs (Harrison and Harrison organ of King’s College, Cambridge)
'All in all, this is not only a fascinating historical record but also a superlative musical one.'
Available Format: 2 CDs + 2 DVD Videos
Reissue/Archive Issue of the Month
'This excellent and nicely recorded recital extends our knowledge of a major pianistic figure from the relatively recent past. I’d certainly recommend you investigate further.'
Available Formats: 2 CDs, MP3, FLAC
Chris O'Reilly - Chief Executive
